Plateful Cafe at SET Social in Peckham

On the 2nd of August, Plateful Café headed to SET Social in Peckham. Though the event was funded by Southwark Council, the day was truly made through the collaborative effort of Raze Collective, TRIBE and Sounds Between. Between these three organisations, they fostered an atmosphere of inclusivity and, central to Plateful’s mission, a strong sense of community. The stalls were a mixture of individuals selling pre-loved clothes and jewellery and artisanal goods; mutual aid bake sales; and information about queer-inclusive services. These were run by some amazing people with whom I had the privilege of talking to throughout the day.

We were all genuinely interested in learning more about the cause the other championed. The curiosity didn’t end there as people regularly approached to ask about the food we had on offer. Many remarked that it was the lovely smells that drew them in.

The Plateful menu featured its well loved classics — falafel, samosas, vine leaves — alongside a newer addition: Humitas, a traditional South American dish that offered a slight deviation from the Middle Eastern flavours Plateful has come to be associated with. Naturally, this brought some intrigue and hesitation from customers. Those who ventured out of their comfort zone were duly rewarded with the rich, buttery corn filling and subtle cheesy flavour. Even if this doesn’t ordinarily sound like your cup of tea, I strongly urge that you try it when it next appears on a Plateful menu.

At the forefront of this successful day were our three chefs – Kin, Tin and Mehti. Although it was Kin and Tin’s first time in a role of this nature, neither were daunted by what was asked of them. On the contrary, they remarked that the number of customers we served allowed them to gain lots of valuable new experiences and on the whole, it was a truly great day. I too can attest to this. Guided by Mehti, they quickly picked up the technique of filling and rolling wraps while keeping up with orders. No customer had to wait too long thanks to the delivery of high quality dishes and the team’s solid communication throughout. The three of them embodied teamwork during the time I spent with them.

This was valuable time for me as well. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the chefs themselves. We spoke about their lives before they came to the UK, their eyes lighting up as they told me about their former professions and the places they had travelled to. It was amazing to hear about the languages everyone spoke or hoped to learn, and about their visions for the future. Being able to connect with people is one part of the role I know I’ll never tire of. As Mehti rightly remarked at the end of the day, “we all helped each other, and we were like a family.”

So, a huge thank you once again to the various organisations whose passion gave Sunday its true community feel. And a special thank you to my three coworkers for the day: Kin, Tin and Mehti, whose spirit made the day so enjoyable.